More than 1000 flights a week, connecting the Kingdom’s regional airports to seven international destinations

June 2, 2016
GACA Report

The assistant to the General Authority of Civil Aviation President for airports, Eng. Tareq Alabdaljabar said in a news briefing that the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in the framework of the increased growth in air travel has adopted the summer schedule for international flights from the Kingdom’s regional airports. The total number of flights have reached 1010 flights per a week (both arrival and departing flights). Those regional airports connects with many international destinations in each of the following countries (UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Kuwait).

He went on to say that GACA under the instructions of the Minster of Transport, Mr. Suliman Alhamdan is working at an accelerated pace and according to a studied plans to maximize the economic value of airports and take advantage of all the possibilities of being self-reliant. And for GACA to rely on its financial resources and work according to a commercial standards, at the same token provide options convenient and easy for passengers, by allowing them to fly to neighboring countries without any hindrance and in a comfortable manner.

Alabdaljabar, added that the increase growth in international flights from the Kingdom’s airports reflects the keenness of airliners to conducts its flight from regional airports in the light of the facilities provided by GACA to them.

He pointed out that all airports have completed all of its equipment checks and readiness plans in cooperation with the relevant government’s agencies. They’re to greet arriving and departing international flights in accordance with the new schedule, and the departure terminal have been readied accordingly.

He went on to explain that the summer schedule, includes the operation of 272 weekly flights from Prince Naif Bin Abdul-Aziz airport in Alqassem, which includes (28) flights to Doha, (56) flights to Dubai, (14) to Manama, (16) to Istanbul, Two flights to Trabzon, (6) flights to Alexandria, (10) flights to each of Sharm El Sheikh, Assiut, Sohaj, (112) to Cairo and (28) flights to Sharjah.

Also it included the adoption of (168) weekly flights in Abha Regional Airport at a rate of (70) flights to Cairo, (42) flights to Dubai, (28) to Doha, and (28) flights to Sharjah.

In the meantime, Prince Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul-Aziz in Yanbu will operate (194) weekly flights at a rate of (114) to Cairo, (26) flights to Istanbul, (8) flights to Alexandria, (8) flights to Sohaj, (14) flights to Doha, (14) flights to Dubai, Sharjah (8) and finally two flights to Trabzon.
While in Taif International Airport, (162) weekly flights have been adopted, where (76) flights will be operating to Cairo, (28) flights to Dubai, (28) flights to Doha, (16) flights to Kuwait, (6) flights to Sharjah and two flights to Trabzon.

And at Prince Sultan Bin Abdul-Aziz Airport in Tabuk, (70) flights have been approved for operation, (34) of which to Cairo, (14) to Dubai, (6) to Oman, (6) to AL Sharjah, (8) flights to Doha and two flights to Trabzon.

At the same token, (76) weekly flights have been approved for operation at Al Ahsa Regional Airport, (14) of which to Dubai and Sharjah, (22) flights to Doha, (20) flights to Cairo, two flight to Sohaj and (4) flights to Istanbul. Thirty-two international flights have been adopted for operation from Hail Regional Airport, (10) of which to Cairo, (14) to Dubai, (6) to Sharjah and two flights to Trabzon.

And at King Abdullah Airport in Jazan, (34) flights have been approved for operation, (12) of which to Cairo, (14) to Sharjah, (8) to Dubai. At Aljouf Airport (30) weekly flights has been scheduled, (16) of which to Cairo, (8) to Dubai and (6) flights to Sharjah.

It should be worth noting that the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has achieved tangible success in operating flights from its ten regional airports, they provide direct flights to each of the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Yemen and Turkey. This has contributed in achieving a clear growth in passenger and flight traffic at domestic airports, and have contributed to a qualitative levels of services.